One thing that nobody mentioned yet about Mini's is the fact that the barrel heats up very quickly and has this plays havoc on accuracy.
I wouldn't have remembered this particular problem, but I was reminded of it yesterday at the range. The guy shooting next to me had a scoped Mini and when he first started shooting, he was getting about 2" groups at 50yds from the bench, but after a magazine or two, his shots were literally all over the place. I tried the rifle and I could barely keep the shots in a 5" circle. In contrast, when I stopped my hands from shivering (it was cold without gloves on!!) I was getting 1/4" to 1/2" groups with my Volq 10/22, and when I shoot my Bushmaster Shorty AK with iron sights at that distance, I usually get 3/4" to 1 1/4" groups.
I wouldn't have remembered this particular problem, but I was reminded of it yesterday at the range. The guy shooting next to me had a scoped Mini and when he first started shooting, he was getting about 2" groups at 50yds from the bench, but after a magazine or two, his shots were literally all over the place. I tried the rifle and I could barely keep the shots in a 5" circle. In contrast, when I stopped my hands from shivering (it was cold without gloves on!!) I was getting 1/4" to 1/2" groups with my Volq 10/22, and when I shoot my Bushmaster Shorty AK with iron sights at that distance, I usually get 3/4" to 1 1/4" groups.